The giant penis near the Eiffel Tower or a walking tour of Paris in the Art Nouveau style

If you take a walk in the 7th arrondissement of Paris next to Eiffel Tower You will discover a prestigious neighborhood with beautiful houses, most of which were built during the second half of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century. Art Nouveau fans will be in for a special surprise in the form of a beautiful entrance to a residential building located at Avenue Rapp 29. This entrance is so beautiful that it is no wonder that Jules Lavirotte (1864-1929), the architect who built it, was awarded the prize for the most beautiful facade in Paris in 1901. However, if you look closely at the entrance and the door, you will discover something surprising…

How did a giant phallus end up in an Art Nouveau building in a neighborhood near the Eiffel Tower?

Let's start with the more innocent elements of this beautiful facade. The head of a woman above the door is that of Levirot's wife, who lived in this building with her husband. The pair of figures on the right and left are Adam and Eve expelled from the Garden of Eden (is this a symbolic message that the Garden of Eden takes place inside the building?).

So far, as mentioned, everything is innocent…

But now let me suggest you step back a little and take a good look at the door itself, the windows above it, and the wall that surrounds it.

What do you see?

It can't be!

But yes, the wall around the door is very reminiscent, and for good reason, of a female genitalia, with the woman's head located more or less where the clitoris should be.

However, if that is still debatable, look closely at the windows on the right and left, and then at the door. Pay close attention to the engraving, especially its lower part.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen! This is not a mistake. The architect Levirot decided that the entrance door to the building in which he lived would be in the shape of a giant phallus…

But Levirot's sexual symbolism didn't end there. As you can see, there is an iron lizard ornament on the door. It's a seemingly innocent decoration until we learn that the word lizard in 19th-century French slang meant a male genitalia...

The question that naturally arises is whether all these phallic signs were brought there specifically or is the phallus in the eye of the beholder?

Before we continue: Recommended cabarets at great prices

Art Nouveau Tour in Paris Following Levirot

So who was this Levirot who created this beautiful and unique building? Jules Levirot was born in Lyon in 1864 and studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, which is located in6th arrondissement in ParisHis first Art Nouveau buildings were mostly built in the 8th arrondissement in the areas surrounding Avenue Rapp, which makes it very easy for the traveler. Later, if you want to see more examples of Levirot's buildings, you will have to walk (or take the metro) to the XNUMXth arrondissement.

I would recommend starting the tour outside the École Militaire metro and walking west along the Champs de Mars. It may take a little longer, but in return you will get a beautiful view of the park and the Eiffel Tower on the horizon.

Turn right on Avenue Joseph Bouvard and then left on Avenue Rapp. Continue straight on the avenue and take a right until you reach Square Rapp 3.

Square Rapp 3

This is undoubtedly one of the most magical and lesser-known corners of Paris. On this square, at number three, you will find a building that Lavirot built in collaboration with Alexandre Bigot, who provided the beautiful ceramics that decorate the building. Lavirot himself lived in this building on the fifth floor.

After you've finished admiring the building and its very beautiful (and not so provocative) door, look at the ceramics on the balcony on the fourth floor and you'll discover the same familiar phallus from the building at Avenue Rapp 29. Finally, glance at the gate in the square and the Eiffel Tower on the horizon. You've undoubtedly been rewarded with one of the most beautiful Parisian views you can find in the City of Lights.

Avenue Rapp 29

Go back to Avenue Rapp until you reach Maspka 29. We talked about the door and the phallic symbols in the building quite a bit earlier, so now it is recommended to take a step back and just look at the entire building. You will undoubtedly discover an Art Nouveau celebration before you.

Note also the beautiful ceramics of Bigot and the wild and gorgeous Art Nouveau design for which Virot won the prize for the most beautiful facade in Paris in 1901.

rue Sedillot 12

Continue straight and make a U-turn onto Sedillot Street. Continue on your way until you reach number 12, which is used as an Italian school.

True, it is a slightly less impressive building than the other buildings in Levirot, but it is still a beautiful building and its gate is very reminiscent of Romanesque architecture.

So what do we do now?

You may decide that with all the beauty on the streets of Paris, you've seen enough. architecture For one day. In that case, let me recommend you A culinary tour following Julia Child, Which starts not far from there.

However, if you want to see more of Levirot's beautiful Art Nouveau buildings, you should head to the 8th arrondissement. My recommendation is to take the metro to Charles De Gaules – Etoile station. If you don't feel like changing stations, you can walk to Bir Hakeim station and take line 6, and on the way, enjoy the Eiffel Tower and one of the most beautiful bridges in Paris again.

When you reach the Arc de Triomphe, go to Avenue Wagram until you reach number 34.

Avenue Wagram 34 – Hotel Ceramique

In my opinion, this is Levirot's most beautiful building. A wonderful combination of stone and "vegetation." It is no wonder that this unique building facade earned Levirot his second Outstanding Facade Award in 1904.

Today it is in a hotel building. Elysees Ceramic , a charming 3-star hotel that is part ofMy list of recommended hotels in Paris.

After you have finished admiring this beautiful facade, continue along the avenue and then turn right onto Avenue des Ternes and then left onto Avenue Hoche. When you reach the end of the avenue, you will see the entrance toMonceau Park.

Although the park is not really connected to this route, I highly recommend going into it anyway because it is one of the most charming parks in Paris. If you don't want to do this and decide to continue on the route immediately, go to rue Lisbon and from there to Avenue Messine 23.

Avenue Messine 23 and rue Messine 6

Here you can find two later buildings by Levirot. The buildings are still very beautiful but their style is more restrained than that of the earlier buildings he built.

The building at 23 Avenue Messine was awarded the prize for the most beautiful facade in Paris for the third and last time by Le Virot in 1907. These two buildings are also the last two buildings that Le Virot designed in the Art Nouveau style, so it is a great place to end our tour for now. However, if you want to continue your journey through the beauty of Art Nouveau in Paris, let me recommend you the My itinerary in the ninth and tenth arrondissements Because there are architectural surprises hidden there too that I'm sure you'll love.